Zibrowius, H.; Taviani, M. (2005). Remarkable sessile fauna associated with deep coral and other calcareous substrates in the Strait of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea. in Freiwald A, Roberts JM (eds), Cold-water Corals and Ecosystems. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, pp 807-819.
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Zibrowius, H.; Taviani, M.
2005
Remarkable sessile fauna associated with deep coral and other calcareous substrates in the Strait of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea. <i>in</i> Freiwald A, Roberts JM (eds), Cold-water Corals and Ecosystems. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, pp 807-819
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Deep-sea dredging of sediment-starved steep reliefs in the Strait of Sicily (cruise CS96 of RV Urania) recovered various benthic organisms previously unknown or poorly documented in the Mediterranean basin. This Mediterranean case-study refers to deep coral substrates represented by loose or cemented skeletal remains of Desmophyllum, Lophelia and Madrepora, subfossil giant oyster shells, micriticised sponges, from c. 250-1000 m depth. Here we present some of the more remarkable species: one foraminiferan (Planogypsina?); the sponges Stylocordyla pellita, Sphinctrella gracilis and Siphonidium ramosum; a bioluminescent zoantharian (still unidentified); the boring actinian Fagesia loveni; the stoloniferous octocoral Scleranthelia musiva; the gorgonian Dendrobrachia fallax; and the holothurian Psolidium complanatum.
